I felt as though this moment deserved a selfie today, afterall it’s a moment I feel like I’ve waited 6 long months for (and I really loved the quote on the mirror; “I am whole, perfect and complete…exactly as I am 💓.”)
I had my first in-person appointment this afternoon with the practitioner I told you I’d met with last week on Zoom who will be helping me through this next leg of my journey (see blog: https://wheredidmommyssmilego.com/2022/10/06/sounding-the-alarms/). Her name is Julie.
The appointment included an actual examination which I’d really been longing to have for months. This has honestly been the first glimmer of hope I’ve felt since this whole mess started with me back in April. The appointment itself went well and Julie was just as thorough, informative, patient and caring as she had been during our initial consultation last week.
One of our most basic needs as human beings is the need to understand and feel understood. To feel heard and seen. Today I felt all that and more but I’m not gonna lie to you because I’d also been feeling extremely overwhelmed and anxious leading up to my appointment and throughout it as well which seems to have further exasperated ALL of my symptoms this evening and has now left me curled up on my couch with a horrible headache, feeling mentally drained and physically exhausted, nauseous, shaking and numb yet I know I am in really great hands with Julie and although I may be down tonight, I am not out; afterall just like the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”!
This past weekend I watched the new Netflix movie “Luckiest Girl Alive”. It is a film adaptation based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Jessica Knoll.
The movie stars Mila Kunis, who I absolutely adore. I honestly had no clue what the film was about before we sat down to watch it as a family (a VERY rare occasion). I figured it was some sassy Rom-Com movie but really, all I heard was Mila Kunis and family time and I was in.
I am strongly urging everyone who is able to watch this film to please do so, especially our young adults, both male and female alike. There is a trigger warning at the beginning and may not be suitable for all audiences though as it delves deep AND quite graphically into very realistic issues surrounding school shootings, sexual assault, rape, victim blaming and PTSD.
The film is told through the eyes of Mila Kunis’s character who is just weeks away from marrying the man of her dreams and who, on the outside is seemingly living a perfect life in New York City (sidenote: it was actually filmed here in Toronto) but on the inside Mila’s character TifAni is being haunted by her past as a teenager while attending a very prestigious private school; those scenes are portrayed throughout the film in a series of flashbacks played by the young and incredibly talented actress Chiara Aurelia.
Sadly we are still living in a culture that heavily protects its perpetrators, leaving too many victims in fear of speaking their truth due to societal pressures. This film however gives you a raw and very vulnerable glimpse into what life can look like for survivors of rape and victim blaming or slut shaming who are living with the aftermath in silence, many of whom developing PTSD from their trauma yet still too afraid to share their story or seek proper counselling.
It was uncomfortable to watch and I cried my way through the last 15 minutes but that was exactly what needed to happen while watching it, it needed to feel uncomfortable. It’s a story that needs to make people uncomfortable, it’s a story that needs to be heard over and over again. There were so many important messages in the film, including some of TifAni’s final words when she looks into the camera and says, “Nothing to be ashamed of.”
*if you or someone you know has been a victim of a sexual assault, there are many 24 hour crisis lines and local clinics available to help, including your nearest hospital. #metoo
This year’s theme is “Make Mental Health and Wellbeing for all a Global priority”.
The Pandemic itself has created even bigger setbacks for individual and community-based accessibility, affordability and quality services and supports.
This global crisis is undermining the mental health and wellbeing of millions of people, especially in areas with social and economic inequalities.
Stigma and discrimination continue to also be at the forefront which is why we all need to do our part, now more than ever, by increasing awareness and education.
“World Mental Health Day” is a perfect place to start advocating for ourselves and others by talking about mental health in general and understanding the importance of talking about it so that those struggling in silence will be able to find the strength to get the help they so desperately deserve.
The more vocal we are together around the globe, the more people will know just how valued they are and hopefully bring about change. And don’t forget to take some time today to hold space for your own mental health too; its a perfect Fall day for a #summerofrich adventure.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends and family today as well.
I’m a mess today. My life an even bigger mess right now.
I feel like I’ve let everyone around me down after countless years of living with a disease that has left me drowning in guilt and feeling like a burden to everyone I love; my kids, Rich, my friends, family and myself included.
I want so much to feel like I’m a good mom, wife and friend. I want to learn how to love myself again.
I didn’t choose to become sick or all that has followed.
I didn’t choose to become immersed in negative thoughts and emotions that keep me from doing so many of the wonderful things I used to enjoy or should be capable of doing.
I can’t just turn my illness on and off like a switch when I feel like it or when someone else wants me to. I can’t just think positive thoughts and it will all just go away. This lack of understanding only creates unrealistic expectations for those who are desperately trying to help or for someone like myself, desperately trying to overcome a major depressive disorder.
Depression (and anxiety) impact every corner of your life from your work life to your family life to your social life to your married life too.
I’m drowning in guilt today and feel like a burden to everyone I love. I want so much to be a good mom, wife and friend. I want to learn how to love myself again.
I want to stop feeling like I’ve let everybody down. Including myself.
I met with the practitioner this morning who will be helping me through this next chapter in my journey.
We had a zoom call for our initial consultation and spoke for over an hour. She already had a glimpse into my story from the office manager’s notes she’d collected from our conversation last week as well as through some paperwork I’d filled out online prior to our meet up today.
She had many more questions still in hand though throughout our conversation to help her better understand exactly what led me to her today.
I was very emotional as I recalled many parts of my story, AGAIN and especially surrounding my disbelief as to what has happened to me since my treatment in April, but her kindness and patience along with her wealth of knowledge in her field of practice, the more she spoke, the calmer I began to feel.
She told me that my case was extremely unique (boy is that ever an understatement), but she also assured me that she will do whatever she can to help me get through this.
Throughout the hour long conversation she explained to me in great detail how our nervous system works and sent me several videos to watch afterwards as well (which I did). I learned today that our nervous system contains 400 individual nerves which span 72 km’s in length.
She told me that our spinal cord is the gatekeeper to all the sensors in our body which sends messages to our brain. The more she spoke I began to have a clearer understanding of what the Neurologist meant when he told me that a circuit broke in my brain during my treatment and that given the severe disconnect I’ve experienced it has created issues that have literally taken over my entire body and has caused my nervous system to become like an overly sensitive alarm.
The daily and near constant mix of brain zaps, twitches and spasms throughout my body, the tingling sensation in my hands and feet, nausea, numbness and shakiness in my arms and legs, my blurred vision, my hypersensitivity to cold and light, my sensitivity to noise, touch and sudden movements and of course my symptoms related to Pgad have all spread throughout my body. It’s as though I have a continuous surge of electricity running through my body. These daily challenges along with my awesome ability to catastrophize everything has left me feeling further stressed, anxious and completely rundown.
We discussed several techniques and practices she uses which she will teach me as we go along to help desensitize my extra sensitive nervous system and hopefully calm my symptoms down but for now, the next step is to meet in person next week at her office so that she can first do a full and extensive examination on me.
Over the course of the last few months I’ve mentioned several times that I have been waiting since May/June to find out if the specialist my Psychiatrist originally referred me to has accepted the referral he made. I’d received an email in the summer (which I shared at the time) stating that the referral would take 8 to 12 weeks just to process and then once accepted, it would take another 6 to 12 months to call me to book an actual appointment. I called the specialist’s office again last week and left a message to find out where I am in the queue at this point. I received a phone call back this morning (which I was pleasantly surprised to hear back at all) but was informed that although the referral has been processed I shouldn’t expect to hear from them for still another 6 to 9 more months in order to book my appointment. She kindly offered to put me on their waitlist to try to prioritize my queue. I accepted without hesitation.
You can probably imagine by this point that I am beyond frustrated, well actually I’m way beyond the point of frustration now; I’m infuriated, leaving a whole other part of me now wanting to die as well.
I can’t do this anymore. I just want to scream and cry and maybe throw something.
But can anyone really blame me?
In the meantime though, my psychiatrist, who thankfully has not given up on me yet, recently made a few additional referrals as well to other specalists along hospital row in downtown Toronto (ranked as some of the greatest hospitals in Canada and around the world) who had come highly recommended to him by other doctors; Urologists, Sexual Health Doctors and Gynecologists alike. Someone has to know something about this very rare disorder I’m dealing with (and without a 12 to 18 month wait time) which statistically affects only 1% of the population in the world and is completely destroying whatever quality of life I feel like I have left. Well guess what? Every single new referral he has made recently for me were all declined immediately after receiving them due to the doctor’s lack of knowledge on my condition and the lack of research that’s been done as well over the last 20 years since it first received an actual name in the medical field.
I just can’t do this anymore. I’m overwhelmed and scared for my life but today I did finally receive a piece of positive news which I’m trying desperately to hold on to along with a last glimmer of hope in my heart.
Throughout my journey over the last 8+ years I’ve had to fight for my life more times than I can count and have learned just how important self-advocacy is and now on this new leg of my journey I’ve found myself having to work overtime in order to try and get the help I need regarding my new issues that began at the onset of my Psilocybin treatment back in April. I’ve done hours upon hours of my own research, read many articles, gathered bits and pieces of information and treatment options through an amazing Facebook group I found and have spoken with a professor in Biochemical and Molecular Sciences and is considered a tier 1 expert and researcher in Sexual Health, Neurology, Psychology and Rehabilitation Therapy in Ontario.
My Psychiatrist has also been doing his own diligent research on my condition and what we have both found is one treatment option in particular most consistently recommended and with particularly good results. Unfortunately though it is not covered by our healthcare system (of course) and is very expensive and therefore has not been a viable option for me financially right now but, and here is where the positive news enters the picture.
Late last week I had my regularly scheduled appointment with my Psychiatrist where I sobbed uncontrollably and said once again to him, “I don’t think I can do this anymore.” Well first thing this morning he called me, with an answer to my statement I’d made days earlier as he spoke the words, “Let’s try one more time.” You see, immediately following our conversation late Thursday afternoon, my Psychiatrist reached out to his research team from the clinical study to discuss where I’m at in this process and to discuss this treatment option with them further. He also reached out to the clinic I was in contact with as well to gather more information on the treatment; he let me know he was doing so. He called me this morning to then let me know that the research team will be providing the funding needed for the treatment. He was so apologetic and extremely remorseful as to what has happened to me. I know it’s not his fault at all but it felt really good to hear it nonetheless and maybe, fingers crossed, by the time I eventually do hear from the referral made back in the Spring, in however many months from now that I’ve been hanging all hope on, I will no longer need their help and I can give up my spot to the next person in the queue.
*I have my first appointment already scheduled for later this week, with 8 to 10 additional appointments following. It’s a more holistic approach to medicine and takes on a neurological, physiological and psychological approach…and the best part is, I am not the first person they have treated at their clinic with my condition!
In case you missed my blog explaining the details of my current situation please go to link below.
Committing to spending quality time with friends and family is an important part of our social well-being and overall wellness.
One of the best ways to achieve these goals is by creating traditions with friends, family and our chosen families too.
Despite our busy schedules and hectic lives, not everyone is always available to join in so easily anymore but, nonetheless these moments are super important to me and are such a great way to nurture connection, distract from the chaos, focus on what is truly important, feel a sense of belonging and appreciation and it brings with it a sense of comfort to the unpredictability of life.
Thanks @sheriepstein for always putting in the extra effort to ensure that our special family time traditions keep going 😇
In support of National Bullying Prevention Month throughout October and World Mental Health Day on October 10th we have created a new design.
Our words contain power and energy.
Words can cause hurt, anger and sadness.
Words can bring comfort, heal, validate and inspire us.
Words can be kind and encouraging; humiliating or harmful.
Words can uplift or leave us feeling defeated.
The words we choose can change the direction of our relationships.
Words can change the trajectory of your life.
The right words make all the difference.
Words are powerful beyond measure.
Choose them wisely.
Now that Fall has arrived, it’s time to cozy up with a comfy @gentlereminderproject hoodie. Message us to purchase one today. Lots of beautiful affirmations to choose from. Let others know that it’s okay not to be okay. You are not alone.
Eventually you close your eyes and fall asleep after tossing and turning for hours. The voices in your head don’t give you much time to rest and before you know it, the sun has risen and morning has come.
You open your eyes.
But you wish you hadn’t. I wish I hadn’t too.
Every 40 seconds someone takes their own life. That’s close to 800,000 people worldwide every single year. In many instances a suicidal person may hide behind their “mask”, fake a smile or tell you everything is “fine” even though it isn’t.
Too many of us feel as though we have to pretend to be the person they think others want or expect us to be so we put on our mask, fake a smile and tell the world everything is fine even though it’s not. We fear we will be judged by our friends or we don’t want to feel like a burden to our loved ones or look weak to society.
A mask, a fake smile or a simple word can hide a magnitude of pain and sadness but it doesn’t have to be that way. I promise you, you are not alone. I know it’s scary but it’s okay to admit that life is really fucking hard.
The last few months have been excruciatingly difficult for me and as I’ve mentioned before I’ve been consumed by thoughts of suicide. I am so beyond blessed though for all the incredible support I have at every turn and I am especially grateful to those who have rallied around both me and my family in recent weeks. I am not afraid to admit that life is really, really hard right now and as Glennon Doyle (bestselling author and activist) will attest to after recovering from an almost 20 year battle with addiction and bulimia, that not only is it okay to admit when life feels really hard but that it’s also okay to say, “actually today I’m not fine”. Afterall, we are all just human beings and we shouldn’t have to run from our feelings or be afraid of them.
When we admit those words aloud, when we are in the most pain or darkest moments, you may be pleasantly surprised to find out just how many people will show up.
The world is a messy place, but I’ve learned I don’t have to attempt it alone, and you my friend, neither should you.
Keep checking up on your friends and loved ones, even the strong and happy ones.
YouAreEnough 
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